Michael Mann (Heat) and David Milch (Deadwood) have cast Dennis Farina and John Ortiz to star in their upcoming HBO pilot, Luck. The project centers on the world of horse-racing and gambling and is set at a racetrack with the story told from multiple points of view. Here’s how THR breaks down the premise and new casting:

It centers on Ace Bernstain, who, after three years in prison, teams with Gus Economou (Farina), his longtime chauffeur and muscle, to craft a complex plan involving the track. They recruit Turo Escalante (Ortiz), a successful trainer with sordid reputation.

Mann and Milch are a potent combo and Farina and Ortiz seem like perfect fits for this world. While the world of betting on horses isn’t one that currently fascinates me, Luck could very well have me craving for the episode rather than mocking the names of the horses. [Thanks to THR for the image above as well]